A side-by-side comparison of First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) and NBI Global Real Assets Income ETF (NREA) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | GRID | NREA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +3404.94%✓ | +10.92% |
| 1-Day Change | +3676.94%✓ | -0.89% |
| 1-Week Change | +3908.00%✓ | +0.82% |
| 1-Month Change | +4024.46%✓ | +4.13% |
| Current Price | $170.34 | $27.71 |
| AUM | $11.36B✓ | $1.47B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.56% | — |
| Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 1.92%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2009-11-16 | 2019-01-15 |
| Holdings Count | 117 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Infrastructure Equity | Infrastructure Equity |
| Beta | 1.42 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $198.79 | $29.51 |
| 52-Week Low | $143.36 | $24.39 |
| 50-Day MA | $176.67 | $27.23 |
| 200-Day MA | $178.62 | $27.74 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | GRID | NREA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +3404.94%✓ | +10.92% |
| 1 Year | +6.92% | +12.96%✓ |
| 3 Year | +26.01%✓ | +13.07% |
| 5 Year | +12.53%✓ | +10.45% |
| 10 Year | +17.48%✓ | +0.00% |
| 1Y Volatility | 24.18% | 7.47% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.02 | 1.27 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | JCI | Johnson Controls International PLC | 8.71% |
| 2 | PWR | Quanta Services Inc | 7.94% |
| 3 | ETN | Eaton Corporation PLC | 7.94% |
| 4 | ABBN | ABB Ltd | 7.62% |
| 5 | SU | Schneider Electric S.E. | 6.45% |
| 6 | NG | National Grid PLC | 4.39% |
| 7 | EOAN | E.ON SE | 4.52% |
| 8 | PRY | Prysmian SpA | 3.58% |
| 9 | HUBB | Hubbell Inc | 2.84% |
| 10 | NVT | nVent Electric PLC | 2.62% |
| 1 | AEP | American Electric Power Co Inc | 6.98% |
| 2 | ETR | Entergy Corporation | 5.30% |
| 3 | AENA | Aena SA | 4.56% |
| 4 | XEL | Xcel Energy Inc | 4.20% |
| 5 | IBE | Iberdrola S.A. | 4.17% |
| 6 | LNG | Cheniere Energy Inc | 3.90% |
| 7 | NEE | Nextera Energy Inc | 3.78% |
| 8 | TRGP | Targa Resources Inc | 3.41% |
| 9 | ENB | Enbridge Inc | 3.31% |
| 10 | WMB | Williams Companies Inc | 3.19% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | GRID | NREA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.27% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 2.56% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 17.48% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 63.07% | 28.53% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 2.12% |
| Technology | 13.07% | 0.12% |
| Utilities | 20.06% | 52.27% |
About GRID
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and depositary receipts that comprise the index. The index includes companies that are primarily engaged and involved in electric grid, electric meters and devices, networks, energy storage and management, and enabling software used by the smart grid infrastructure sector. The fund is non-diversified.
About NREA
NA
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both GRID and NREA are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, GRID scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between GRID and NREA?
GRID (First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund) and NREA (NBI Global Real Assets Income ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($11.36B vs $1.47B), dividend yield (0.86% vs 1.92%), and year-to-date performance (+3404.94% vs +10.92%).
Is GRID better than NREA?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, GRID has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy GRID and NREA on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both GRID and NREA should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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